Sausage-linking machine.



PATENTED NOV. 12, 1907.

A. F. LITTLE.

SAUSAGE LINKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILED 00T.4, 1906.

3 SHBBTSSHEET l.

PATENTED NOV. 12, 1907.

A. F. LITTLE. SAUSAGE LINKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 4, 1908.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. Q&

No. 870,972. PATBNTBD NOV. 12, I907.

- A. P. LITTLE.

SAUSAGE LINKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 0013.4, 1906.

s SHEETS-SHEET a.

UNITED STATES PATENT ossros- SAUSAGE-LINKING imcnmn.

No. 870,972. Y

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1907.

Application filed 0ct6ber4=.1906. Serial to 337.447.

. filled sausage casing into sections or links of a desired length and then twisting the same, whereby they will permanently retain their divided or linked form: and aims toprovide a machine of such class with means, as hereinafter set forth, to prevent foreign matter, such as loose meat lodging between the sausage casing and the twisting rollers so as to prevent clogging oi the machine which would retard its operation; and,further to prevent loss of friction between the sausage-casing and rollers so that the twisting operation will be had in a satisfactory manner at all times.

The invention further aims to provide a machine for the purpose set forth which shall be comparatively simple in its construction, strong, durable, efficient in its use, provided with means to prevent the retarding of the linking and twisting operation, readily set up and comparatively inexpensive.

- With the foregoing and other objects in view, the,

to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference 'charactefi denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a sausage-linking machine in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. 3" a Referring to the drawings byreference characters, 1 denotes the support or basenpon which is mounted the means for linking and twisting the filled sausage casing and at each end of said support or base 1 is positioned in any suitable manner a pair of verticallyextending uprights 2, upon each of which is rotatably mounted a sprocket wheel 3. One pair of sprocket wheels is-provided with the beveled gears 4 meshing .with the beveled gears 5 carried by a drive shaft 6 journaled in the machine frame, the shaft having on one end a pulley 7 adapted to be connected to a prime mover, not shown. One of the sprocket wheels 3 at through the medium of an endless chain belt 8 and the same connection is had between the other pair of sprocket wheels. From such arrangement of parts it is evident that when motion is imparted to the shaft 6 the gears 4 and 5 will be driven, consequently rotating one pair of sprocket wheels 3, and the latter through the medium of the belt connections 8 will impart motion to the other pair of sprocket wheels 3.

Secured upon each of the bolts 8 at certain prede' termined distances are gripping jaws 9, which are so arranged that their out ends will intersect one with the other when moving in a central path between the opposite belts, as more clearly shown in Fig. 1. The outer ends of each of the gripping jaws are substantially V-shaped and when motion is imparted to the belts 8 the said jaws 9 will be caused to grip the filled sausage casing and carry or feed the same with a continuous movement through the machine while the sausage is being twisted and linked, and in this connection it will be stated that when a filled sausage casing is guided in the front end of the machine through a trough 10 to aposition to be gripped between the moving jaws 9, two of the jaws are brought to a position opposite each other after being carried around the sprocket wheels at the front end of the machine. When theend of the sausage casing is thus gripped it is carried forward by the moving jaws between the two belts so that as the succeeding jaws come opposite each other they also grip and compress the sausage casing so as to carry or feed the same, and also divide the filled casing into sections or links of the desired length.

In order to twist the divided links whereby they will permanently retain their divided or linked form, a pair of spiral rolls and a pair of traveling holding rolls, which alternately engage the links, are provided. The spiral rolls are indicated by the referencecharacters 11, 12 and are arranged in parallelism with respect to each other, and furthermore are intermittently slotted throughout their entire length as at 13 (best shown in Fig. 2). The spiral rolls 11, 12 are of what may be termed a shell-like formation and at one end are rotaltablymdunted in the front end of the machine and .at their other endare also rotatably mounted the rear end of the machine, but each carries a beveled pinion 14- rncshing with the beveled gears 15 carried bythe shaft The spiral rolls .11, 12 are geared up so that the will both rotate simultaneously and in the same direc ion.

The holding-down rolls are indicated by the reference characters 16, 17.- Eachof these rolls is journaled in a bearing bracket 18 connected by a coupling piece 19 to a curvedcarrier 20, shiftably mounted upon thestationary guide rod 21 fixed to brackets 22 secured to the supporting plate 23. There is a supporting plate 23 on each side of the machine and which are supported above the base by suitable uprights, (see Fig. 3). The carrier 20.is formed ,with the hook-shaped extension 24,

which is engaged by shifting rod 25 for reciprocating the carrier, thereby moving the holding roll longitudinally of the machine in either direction. v The shifting rod 25 operates through an elongated slot'26-formed in the supporting plate 23 and is operated through the medium of a roller '27, carried by a stud 28,- eccentrically mounted upon the cam 29, which is fixed to a rotatable shaft 30 driven in any suitable manner and supported below the base 1 of the machine. The rod 25 has its lower end bifurcated, as at 31, and in this bifurcated end 31 operates the roller 27. From such assemblage of parts it will be evident that when thecam 29 is rotated .thecarrier 20 will be reciprocatedl The holdingdown rolls 16 and 17 arearranged over the spiral rolls l1 and v 12 and 'the function thereof is to hold down the links against the spiral rolls 1] and 12 so that the necessary friction'betw'een the rolls will be had to prevent the link-"from slipping, thereby enabling the link to be properly twisted. The holding-down rolls alternately 20 operatethat is to say. when the roll 16 is moved to oper'ative position to hold down the link the roll 17 is be ing elevated from the link and shifted towards the front end of the machine. To enable the alternate elevating of the holding-down rolls l6 and 17 an elevating bar 32 for each carrier 20 is provided. These bars alternately operate and pass through slots 33 in the supporting plate 23. Each of the bars 32'is operated by a vertically-extending rod 34, which is secured to its respective bar 32 and is actuated by the cam 29 as will bee'vis 30 dent by reference to Fig. 2. The bar 32 is positioned below the carrier 20 so that when the bar is elevated the carrier will,be also raised,-therel)y moving one'holdingdown roll out of the path of the other holding-down roll. Each of the hold ing-down rolls is rotated through 36 the medium of a flexible member 35, which is fixed at one end as at 36, to the supporting plate 23 and at its other end, as at '37, to the said plate 23. The member passes over a roller 38 carried by a protuberance '39 projecting from the carrier and then passes over an ex- 40. tension 4-0 on the holding-downrolhas shown in Fig.1.

' It will be-evident from such an arrangement that when the holding-down roll is shifted in one direction it will be caused to revolve owing to the manner in which the flexible member is connected to the holding-down roll,

15 and when the holding-down roll is shifted in the oppresitc direction it will also be caused to rotate.

, To preyent foreign matter, such as loose meat, when I the sausage casing breaks, from lodging between the sausage" casing'and the spiral and holding-down rolls so as to prevent clogging of the rolls which would retard the operation of the machine, and to further prevent less of friction between the sausage casing and the 5 rolls so that the twisting operation will be had in a satisfactory manner at all times so that it will not be necessary to slacken the motion or stop the machine to remove theloose meat and cleanthe rolls, a compressed air pipe 41;is provided, which extends in a longitudinal direction and is positioned in the center and immediately beneath the two spiral rolls. The air pipe 41 is sromz charged on the rolls, but is controlled by a valve 43- and by such arrangement the air can be turned on instantaneously. A compressed air supply pipe which is positioned over the holding-down rolls 16 and 17 is also provided and the said pipe is indicated by the reference character 44. The pipe 44 is perforated on'the under side, as at 45,, and the discharge of the airfrom the pipe 44 is controlled by the cut-off 46. It will be evident that the air discharged through the openings in the pipe 44 will clean the meat off the holding-dowl rolls. The pipe 44 is located in such a manner withrespect to the holding-down rolls as to not interfere with their free movement of sliding back and forth on the guide bar.

Owing to the manner ofmounting the holding-downrolls any size filled sausage casing can be linked and twisted by the machine which would not be the case adjustment as the holding-down rollswill automatic- 1 ally adjust themselves with respect to the varying sized filled sausage casing.

The machine is adapted to twist everyalternate link, and in such conn'ctionit will be stated that the holding-down roll 16 and the holding-down roll 17 engage every alternate link, consequently as the other links are not held down there is nothing to create friction so as to cause the twisting thereof. .As the links move towards the rear end of the machine the holdingdown rolls travel therewith, as will be evident and when one of the rolls has reached the limit ofits movement in one direction the other holding-down roll has been shifted to engage a link at the forward end of the machine. This operation is continued as long as it is desired. The pressure of the holding-down rolls upon the links is such as not to break the sausage casing, but sufiicient to obtain the desired friction between the link spiral twister rolls and holding-down rolls, so that during the rotation of the spiraltwisterroils the links will be twisted, which would not be the case if the I twister rolls were slipped past the link, The holding-.

down rolls are positioned over the space between the spiral twister rolls, the said space being of a width as not to allow a sausage casing to fall through and so that both twister rolls will engage the link and .twist it in connectidn with the holding-down roll which travels with the link against which it is bearing.

The employment and arrangement of the cleaning device will enable. the removal of the loose sausage meat and other foreign substance from the spiral rolls without slacking the motion or stopping the-machine.

This is an advantage ojging to the fact that in certain machines it is necessary to bring, them to a standstill in order to remove the loose sausage and clean the rolls 4 and as such action consumes time and retards the opv sausage casing, so therefore, by the arrangementof ,cleaning device all loose sausage and other foreignsubstance is remdved from the rolls while the machine is in operation, thereby preventing the loss of friction and the retarding or discontinuing of the twisting or linking operation.

What is claimed isl 1. A sausage linking machine having a pair of rotatable and longitudinally-slotted hollow spiral twister rolls, and means above and below said rolls for discharging air thereon and therethrough thereby cleaning them. 7

' 2. A sausage linking machine having a pair of rotatable, hollow twister rolls each having a spiral passage and provided'with slots. l i

' 3. A sausage linking machine having a plurality 'of rotatable and slotted twister rolls, and means arranged above and below the rolls for discharging air therethrough so as'toclean'the'm.

4. A sausage linking machine having a sausage twisting mean's embodying a rotatable link holding-down element, and means for reciprocating said element longitudinally of the machine.

'. 6.-:A sausage linking machine having a pair of twister rolls, means for rotating said twister rolls in the same di rection, a pair of alternately-operating holding-down rolls arranged in operative relation with respect to said twister -rolis, andmeans for discharging a cleansing medium upon the rolls to remove foreign matters;

7. In a machine of the character'described the combination of linking jaws, a pair of twister rolls a pair of holding-down rolls, and means for moving said holding-down rolls alternately to operative position with respect to said twister rolls,

i 8. In a machine of the character described, the combination oflinking jaws, a pair of rotatable twister rolls, a pair of holding-down rolls, means for moving said holdingdown rolls alternately to operative position with respect to the twister rolls during the operation of the latter, and

operating therewith, and traveling linking devices arranged in pairs and adapted to extend into said twister rolls.

10. A machine of the character described having a pair.

of rotatable link holding-down rolls reciprocating alternately .l n opposite directions, combined with rotatable spiral twister rolls arranged below and cooperating with said holding-down foils, traveling linking jaws arranged inpairs and adapted to extend into the spiral rolls, and means arranged in operative relation with respect to the holding-down rolls and twister rolls for discharging air upon the rolls during the operation thereof thereby re moving foreign matters without discontinuing the operation of the-machine.

11. A machine of the character described having a pair 0t spiral. rolls, holding down rolls associating-therewith, pivotedvsupports for said holding-down rolls, means for alternately moving said holding-down rolls in opposite directions,-and a support vfor-said elements.

12. A machine of the character described'having a pair of rotatable spiral link twister rolls, rotatable holdingdown rolls arranged above the spiral rolls and coiiperatlng therewith, pivoted supports for said holding-down rolls,

cleansing medium thereon without discohtinuing the operation of the machine:

13. A machine of the character described having a pair of spiral twister rolls, means for moving the said rolls in the same direction, rotatable holding-down rolls arranged over the twister rolls and coiiperating therewith, pivoted supports for said holding-down rolls, means for alternately reciprocating said holding-down rollsin' opposite directions causing thereby the rotating of said rolls, means arranged in operative relation with respect to said twister and holding-down rolls for discharging a cleans ng medium thereon to remove foreign bodies without discontinuing the opera tion of the machine, and linking devices coiiperating with said twister and holding-down rolls.

14. A machine of the character described having a pinrality of rotatable and reciprocatory holding-down rolls, pivoted supports for said rolls to allow of one of the rolls being moved out of the path of the other of the rolls,'

means for reciprocating the rolls thereby causing the rotation thereof, means for moving one roll out of the path of the other roll during the reciprocation of the rolls, a pair of spiral twister rolls arranged below the. holding-down rolls and cooperating therewith, means for moving said splmi rolls in the same direction, and linking devices cooperating with said rolls.

15. A machine of the character described having reciprocatory holdlng down rolls, pivoted supports for said rolls, meansjor reciprocating the rolls, means for moving one roll out of the path of the other during the reciprocation of the rolls, a pair ofspiral rolls associating with said holding-down rolls, means for moving said spiral rolls in the same direction, and means for discharging a cleansing medium upon the rolls to remove foreign matters therefrom.

16. A machine of the character described having reciprocatory holding-down rolls, pivoted supports for said rolls, means for reciprocating the rolls, means for moving one roll out of the path of the other during the reciprocation of the rolls, a pair'of spiral rolls associating with said holding-down rolls, means for moving said spiral rolls in the same direction, and means for discharging a cleansing medium upon said rolls thereby removing foreign matters therefrom, and trav eling jaws associating with the spiral and holding-down rolls.

17. A sausage linking machine having a pair of rotatable slottedhollow spiral twister rolls and means arranged in operative relation with respect to said rolls for discharging a cleansing medium thereon and therethr6ugh to remove foreign matters therefrom without discontinuing .the operationlof the machine, and rotatable and reciprocatory holding-down means arranged in operative relation with respect to ,said' rolls.

18. A sausage linking machine having a pair of rotatable hollow twister -rolls each having a spiral passage and furthen provided-with s'lots, linking jaws adapted to travel throughsaid/passage; and link holding-down-means arranged in operative relation withrespect to said rolls.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 'my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

a ALLAN F. LITTLE.

'Witnesses:

, Jon's C. GAGE,

WILLARD P. HALL.- 

